Chapter 33

Frank's POV

Frank was not happy to be excluded from the ice cream party. All he got was an apple, which wasn't even fresh, or juicy, or for that matter, tasty. Okay, he had refused to eat the ice cream; he knew his lactose intolerance was not to be played with, especially not only a few days before there would be a battle that would decide the fate of the world. But still, he couldn't help but munch unhappily on his very pale apple.

But he was glad that they all were sitting on the deck of Argo II, currently anchored at the bank of Mykonos, enjoying ice cream when the end of the world seemed so near. For the hundredth time, he thought, time does seem to slow down when you're near something unpleasant. It's as if the fates want you to suffer in the uncertainty of the future more than they want to give you a painful death quickly.

"...and we ought to reach Delos by today," Leo was saying. "So we've gotta plan who will be going to talk to Apollo and Artemis and get cursed, I mean, get the curse.

"I'll go," Frank volunteered. He felt useless on the ship when he wasn't doing anything. Ever since they'd gotten the Pylosian Mint, he'd been stuck on the Argo II. He didn't get to face a giant while trying to get the heartbeat of the chained god. Even when Percy and Natalie's crazy stormy sister had attacked them, all he could do was hold the mast tightly along with Hazel to make sure he didn't fall. Natalie, Percy and Jason had done the work. Meanwhile, he and the others had flapped and flailed wildly trying not to die. What he actually got to do was to fight a few third grade monsters, and that too with Piper's help, and talk with a bunch of crazy old relatives.

He wasn't even sure it would have mattered much if he had gone or not; Piper could definitely have gotten her way around those guys easily. But this time, he wanted to do something constructive, and not look like a freeloader hogging around.

"I haven't gotten the chance for days. Besides, I'm good at archery, and I might have even offered, you know," he said sheepishly. "A sacrifice or two at Temple Hill. Maybe he might be pleased and not blast us to cinders on sight."

He had conveniently not mentioned that he had, in fact, prayed desperately to Apollo thinking, Please be my dad! Claim me please!

"I'm coming along with you too," Hazel said, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I'm coming too," Natalie said.

Annabeth finished her ice cream. "Okay, that's great. So we already have three people ready to go. We need one more."

Leo fidgeted for a moment. Then he probably realized that he had to be annoying, so he clapped his hands together, "I'll go! Two crazy twin gods who need persuading. I'm totally the best choice for this."

Piper looked at him. "Well, I was thinking I should go since the matter is persuading somebody."

She trailed off, looking at Leo, as if she half expected him to fight with her for going. Jason saved the trouble, though.

"No, this time, I really think you shouldn't go. You have charmspeak, which is great, but this time, it can go against us."

Everyone looked weirdly at Jason, but Annabeth nodded, which meant it was correct. Nobody questioned Annabeth. Her verdict was final.

"Jason's right. We know charmspeak doesn't usually work on gods. Apollo and Artemis are among the Twelve Olympians, the most powerful gods. They're obviously going to have no effect of charmspeak upon them. But if we try, it might as well make them angry."

Piper sighed, then threw up her hands like, Well, what could I do?

"So…I'm going, right?" Leo asked.

"Well, yes," Percy looked at him. "But keep one thing in mind. Do not, at any cost ask, or mention a haiku in front of Apollo."

Everyone stared at him, but he just shrugged and said, "Trust me."

Strolling around the town to the colosseum-like building where Hazel had spotted the twins from Arion, Frank realized one thing. There was not a single human on Delos. Well, except them, nobody else. Frank immediately felt like this was a place they should not be at all. It was as if the island of Delos itself was warning them it was dangerous here.

They walked into an old colosseum-like building. It was a ruin of its perhaps glorious former self. In the centre, on a podium, sat Apollo, stringing his bow.

"Aha," he said, as he saw them coming. "Targets! My score will be higher and I'll beat you this time."

"You won't be able to beat me, brother."

A goddess in silver robes materialized just beside Apollo, looking a little bit huff, though Frank was not sure if it was due to Apollo's remark or their arrival. Her sleek hair was tied back in a ponytail, and she looked, at the moment, about sixteen.

"Lady Artemis, Lord Apollo," Frank bowed, followed by Hazel, Natalie, and a hesitant looking Leo. He knew it was Artemis, not Diana. Somehow, he just did.

"Good, you know your manners. Now, you can stand over there, and know that you all have to be constantly moving just to make the challenge a little bit tough–,"

"Brother," Artemis said, a little more impatient. "These heroes are not targets. They have come to get help from us."

Apollo looked crestfallen, which did not help. "Alright."

"Natalie, Frank, Hazel," Artemis turned to them. "Come with me. Leo, you shall be fine with Apollo. You can get what you want from him. My brother will be of assistance."

Apollo nodded, giving them a thumbs up. Leo didn't look happy, but he didn't complain either. Artemis turned and led them back outside the Colosseum, the same way they'd come from. She led them through a stone pathway into a garden. It must have been blessed by the goddess' magic, because it was probably the only place which seemed inviting in the entire island of Delos. Sure, the place was not barren. But it was not very prosperous either.

Inside the garden, a fountain of a young maiden wielding a bow glimmered. Flowers of different colours blossomed. Trees laden with juicy fruits stood out green and healthy.

"You will have to excuse my brother for being a little….over-enthusiastic."

"It's not a problem, lady," Hazel said. "We've come here for your assistance to make–,"

"The Physician's Cure," the goddess interjected. "I know. Your friend Leo Valdez shall be able to obtain the curse of Delos from Apollo, if he makes a successful bargain. But for now, you must see something else."

The goddess waved her hand. A holographic image shimmered before them. It was a place Frank hadn't visited yet, but he knew where it was. He had seen the place all the time while eating in the mess hall of the Argo II.

"The Roman Army has encircled Camp Half-Blood. They will be launching their strike shortly."

The view zoomed in and out, showing different borders. Big machines stood at various places, though Frank couldn't recall their name.

"They're onagers," the goddess offered, perhaps reading his thoughts. "Every single one of them is capable of destroying Camp Half-Blood. You must complete your quest and go there as soon as you can."

"Our friends Reyna, Nico and Coach Hedge are already escorting the Athena Parthenos, lady," Natalie said.

"Yes, and my hunters are helping them. But they must succeed, and so should you. Remember, Gaea needs the blood of a male, and a female demigod to rise. When you reach Greece, make sure you don't fall victim to her plans."

"Can't you help us, lady Artemis?" Natalie asked.

The goddess' eyes turned stormy and sad. "My father Zeus will not allow it. He is already agitated at Apollo for allowing Python to retake control of Delphi. He is angry at me for interfering too much in the Giant War, what he calls 'demigod matters'."

Artemis was lost in thought for a while. Then, realizing we were there too, she broke her line of thought. "Either way, Mother Earth has trapped you in a situation you cannot control. The gods will not be of assistance to you. Gaea will rise soon if you don't stop her. And even if you do, Camp Half-Blood is still on the brink of annihilation. Too much of the camp's fate is dependent on Reyna and her quest to return the Athena Parthenos to the Greeks."

Hazel turned to her. "So what should we do?"

"Go on forward. Your quest is to stop Gaea from rising. After you leave, my brother and I will leave our safe sanctuary."

The goddess' words struck Frank so suddenly he thought he might fall.

"But, lady," he stammered. "Wouldn't your father be angry with you?"

Artemis had a defiant look in her eyes. "He will. But I shall go and convince him. If I cannot, we are all doomed anyway. Better be so after trying, rather than hiding."

"But what if he doesn't…accept?" Hazel asked uncertainly.

"Do you know the most important quality in a hunter, daughter of Pluto?"

"No."

"Timing. A hunter hides so as not to warn its prey. He or she comes out of hiding and strikes at the perfect timing. Hunters are very precise about the correct moment to do something. The time for hiding is gone now. Now it is time to step forward."

The goddess glowed, and they were zapped to the entrance of the Colosseum. Everything was the same, except now a strange tune echoed off the walls.

Artemis sighed. "Looks like your friend got the curse of Delos."

"Hey!" Leo yelled, running towards them, brandishing a white….daisy?

"I must go. Be good, heroes. And yes, Natalie. Tell your brother to contact Chiron and ask about his mortal parents." Artemis said, disappearing in a flash of light. She seemed to have taken Apollo with her too, as the strange noise was nowhere to be heard now, and Apollo was nowhere to be seen.

"Wait what?" Natalie said. "What about Percy's mortal parents?"

"Do you think they're in trouble?" Hazel asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Natalie said, closing her eyes. "But we should go back and tell him."

Just then, her pegasus, Swiftsilver zapped in front of her.

"Dang hermana, your pegasus is not Arion fast, but fast."

Swiftsilver huffed at Leo, then leaned towards Natalie, who ran her hands through the horse's mane. Swiftsilver neighed.

"I've missed you too, girl. Things were rough."

"I really don't like their horsey conversations," Leo muttered to Frank.

Frank was surprised he was agreeing with Leo, but he nodded his head. "Me too, man."

Natalie jumped on the top of her pegasus, said, "Come on," and left, her pegasus gone in a blink of the eye. Hazel was just about to whistle for Arion when Leo interrupted.

"Wait, I need to tell you both something."

Frank was bewildered. "What?"

"It's something important. But first, you both have to promise to keep it a secret."